Tether, Tron, and TRM Labs Unite to Combat USDT Crimes

Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, has joined forces with Tron, one of the top blockchains, and blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs to combat criminal activity involving USDT.

This action, known as the T3 Financial Crimes Unit (T3 FCU), marks a leading public-private collaboration to address illicit activity involving the use of USDT on the Tron blockchain.

Tether, Tron, and TRM Labs Join Forces to Fight USDT Crime

TRM Labs’ 2023 report revealed that the Tron blockchain accounted for nearly 45% of all illicit cryptocurrency transactions. In response, Tron, founded by Justin Sun, formed a task force with TRM Labs and USDT issuer Tether to combat financial crime.

The Tron blockchain’s high throughput and low transaction costs have attracted both legitimate users and malicious actors, with over 50% of USDT’s circulation powered by the Tron blockchain.

“The same characteristics that make USDT on Tron attractive to legitimate users — low fees, lack of volatility, ease of use — have also attracted the attention of scammers, terrorist financiers, and other threat actors.”

The blockchain intelligence firm also reported that about a third of cryptocurrency crimes last year were due to fraud and scams. Tether’s USDT stablecoin dominated terror financing on Tron.

“As stablecoin adoption continues to grow, it is critical that key industry players proactively develop their capabilities to combat illicit activity and ensure a safe and secure environment,” said Chris Janczewski, Global Head of Research at TRM Labs.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), USDT has become a “preferred choice” among money launderers and fraudsters. Tether has emphasized the role of supporting developing countries in emerging markets.

The importance of initiatives like the T3 FCU is highlighted by these cases, especially as legal and regulatory oversight of the use of digital assets for illicit purposes increases. The Financial Crimes Unit also reinforces Tether’s strong stance against cybercrime.

Tether has previously taken action against cybercrime, freezing $5.2 million USDT due to a fraud linked to a Southeast Asian human trafficking ring in November 2023, and $225 million USDT in the largest cryptocurrency freeze in history.